While President Obama has used children as a political prop in the debate, Bill Stevens, a resident of Newton whose daughter attends Sandy Hook, recently took on legislators in Connecticut who are seeking to expand gun control.

Stevens, who appeared before a Working Group Public Hearing on guns, explained that his daughter was “in lockdown” at Sandy Hook on the day of the shooting, noting that a sibling of her classmate was killed during the shooting. Stevens went over the meaning of the Second Amendment, quoting directly from the Constitution of Connecticut.

“We all know what the Second Amendment says, but Section 15 of the state Constitution says very clearly, ‘Every citizen has a right to bear arms in defense of himself and the state,’” noted Stevens. “There’s no registration, there’s no permitting, there’s no background checks. It’s quite clear.”

Noting that the legislature couldn’t restrict the constitutionally guaranteed, Stevens explained, “In order to limit the rights of individuals, there is something called due process, and legislation is not due process.”

The important historical purpose and civil liberties points aside, Stevens also explained that the Second Amendment provides a tool to protect his family against those who would do the harm. “Criminals and tyrants, tyrants especially, beware, lockdown is not an option at the Stevens’ residence. And 9-1-1 will be dialed after the security of my home is established,” Stevens sharply noted. Echoing the famous words of Charlton Heston, Stevens added, “I will tell you here today, you will take my ability to protect my Victoria from my cold, dead hands.”